Diet and Dried Fruit | Selection Tips from People Who Don't Gain Weight

When I arrived at the office in the morning, my junior colleague came up to me, looking like she was about to cry.

"My boyfriend told me yesterday, 'Have you gained weight?'" she whined.

Her usually cheerful, plump, and glowing cheeks looked a little deflated that day.

"Oh, really? You haven't gained any weight, have you?"

I hung my coat on a hanger and looked at her from head to toe.

"Please tell me the truth... I weighed myself and I've gained three kilos."

I put my hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"Three kilos? Have you been eating and drinking excessively lately?"

She shook her head vigorously at my question.

"No! But I was inspired by your featured article on dried fruit, so I’ve been buying all sorts of dried fruit and eating them as snacks."

And then she continued.

"But, but, why don't you gain weight, senpai, and I do...?"

Her words made something click for me.

"Hey, what kind of dried fruit were you eating?"

When I asked, my junior immediately pulled out three or four bags of dried fruit from her bag and showed them to me. All of them said "candied."

"You were eating these every time you felt a little hungry?"

"Yes. Because it seems healthier than eating potato chips."

"Well, if you were eating sugar-coated fruit every time you felt a little hungry, you would gain weight. You're lucky it was only three kilos."

At my words, an unexpected small round of applause erupted from within the office.

You could call it the pitfall of dried fruit. By drying them, fruits, which are already high in sugar, are further coated with sugar, so it's only natural that the calories would increase.

While dried fruit is undoubtedly an excellent food for beauty and health, it is also true that it's important to consider how and when you eat it.

"I didn't know that... You should have told me!"

Since that day, it seems that my desk area has become a hub for beauty-conscious female employees to exchange diet information.

"Senpai, you're so slim, do you do any kind of diet?"

When my junior asked, I reflected on my eating habits a little. They were so irregular that I might actually be slightly low on energy.

"No, today I've only had coffee... I think."

When I said that, the resentful stares of the female employees pierced me.

"Health and beauty are about finding what works for you."

Saying that, I took out some dried pineapple from my bag. The sweet and sour taste spread in my mouth, and my fatigue melted away.

Dieting and Food Misconceptions

The word "diet" often comes with connotations of endurance and restriction. Snacks, in particular, tend to be the first thing to avoid. However, in reality, the results can vary greatly depending on what you eat and how you eat it.

Assuming something is okay because it seems healthy, or safe because it's fruit, can lead to unexpected pitfalls. Dried fruit is a prime example of this.

Does Dried Fruit Make You Fat?

In conclusion, dried fruit itself is not bad. The problem lies in the type and how it's eaten.

When fruit is dried, water is removed and sugars are concentrated. Therefore, if eaten with the same感覚 as fresh fruit, calorie intake naturally becomes higher. Furthermore, in the case of candied dried fruit, additional sugar is added on top of the sugar content already increased by drying, causing both sweetness and calories to skyrocket.

It is by no means uncommon for people to find that what they thought was a healthy choice was actually a sweet treat, frequently consumed, that was no different from candy.

Key Points to Consider While Dieting

If you're incorporating dried fruit into your diet, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First, check the ingredient list. Simply choosing products without added sugar or syrup can significantly reduce your calorie intake. Dried fruits made only from fruit have a natural sweetness and can be satisfying in small amounts.

Next, portion size is crucial. Dried fruit is a food that satisfies you with just a small amount. When you're a little hungry, slowly chew just a few pieces. That's a good approach to it.

What Naturally Slim People Do Without Realizing It

People who don't easily gain weight don't necessarily follow special diets. In most cases, they have a good relationship with food.

Taking dried fruit as an example, instead of mindlessly eating to quell hunger, they choose a small amount when they're tired or losing focus. They find satisfaction in savoring the sweetness and don't crave more. This feeling, as a result, helps maintain their body shape.

Dieting is Adjustment, Not Restriction

Dieting is often thought of as abstaining from foods you want to eat, but it's actually closer to adjustment. What you eat, when you eat it, and how much you eat. These small choices accumulate and show up in your body.

Dried fruit can be an ally for beauty and health, or an unnoticed cause of weight gain. That's why it's important to understand it correctly and engage with it mindfully.

Finding What Works for You

There is no single right answer to dieting. The same food can be suitable for some and not for others. The important thing is not to imitate someone else's method, but to choose what suits your own body and lifestyle.

Enjoying dried fruit while being mindful of your body without overdoing it. On that path lies a diet that can be maintained long-term. Whether sweetness is your friend or foe is up to you.